The Chargers made a move to bolster their offensive line Tuesday as they agreed to terms with tackle L.J. Shelton on a two-year deal. ?We had the opportunity to add an experienced, good player to the mix at offensive tackle,? General Manager A.J. Smith said. ?L.J. has played both left and right tackle during his career. We were thin at the position and we were determined to find a talented player. We believe we?ve addressed the need with L.J. Shelton.? Shelton, 6-6, 345, who enters his 10th NFL season in 2008, brings a wealth of experience and versatility to San Diego. He?s played in 130 games and started 125 during his career. In 2007 with the Miami Dolphins, he started all 16 games at right tackle. A year earlier, he started five games at left tackle before moving inside to right guard for the final 11 games.

The Chargers added depth at the quarterback position Friday when they claimed Casey Bramlet off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. Bramlet, 27, becomes the fourth quarterback on the roster, joining Philip Rivers, Billy Volek, and Charlie Whitehurst. Bramlet, 6-4, 230, holds multiple passing records at the University of Wyoming, where he teamed with Chargers' wide receiver Malcom Floyd. The Wheatland, Wyoming native originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2004 NFL Draft. He backed up Jon Kitna and Carson Palmer during his rookie season and then spent the spring of 2005 with the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe. Bramlet returned to Cincinnati for training camp in 2005 but was released prior to the regular season. In January 2006, Bramlet signed with the Washington Redskins. He was waived by Washington at the end of training camp in 2006, but the club resigned him in January, 2007 and allocated him to NFL Europe for another season with the Sea Devils. Bramlet was named MVP of World Bowl XV after he led his club to the league title. After being waived by the Redskins at the end of training camp last summer, Bramlet joined the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons and then spent two weeks as the club?s third quarterback. He was waived on September 19 and joined the Miami Dolphins? practice squad. Bramlet was elevated to the active roster and served as Miami?s third quarterback for the final two weeks of the 2007 regular season.

The San Diego Chargers were notified today by the National Football League that linebacker Stephen Cooper will miss the first four regular-season games of 2008 for violating the NFL policy on Steroids and Related Substances. The following statement was issued today by an NFL spokesperson: Stephen Cooper of the San Diego Chargers has been suspended without pay for the team?s first four regular-season games of 2008 for violating the NFL Policy on Steroids and Related Substances. Cooper's suspension begins on Saturday, August 30. He is eligible to return to the Chargers? active roster on Monday, September 29 following the team?s September 28 game against the Oakland Raiders. Cooper is eligible to participate in the team?s off-season program and in all preseason practices and games. [Note: The NFL Policy on Steroids and Related Substances is posted on nflmedia.com. From the home page, click on ?Resources? and then ?About the NFL.?] Chargers Head Coach Norv Turner issued the following statement: ?Obviously we?re disappointed, just as I know Stephen is. Coop made a mistake and now must deal with the consequences. It?s unfortunate, but we?ll deal with it and move on.? Cooper said in a statement that he has accepted a four-game suspension for his use of a stimulant that was recently added to the NFL?s List of Prohibited Substances and that the stimulant was not used prior to any game or with the intent to enhance performance: ?I regret that I mistakenly took a stimulant that I did not realize at the time was banned by the NFL. I support the NFL?s anti-doping policies, and understand that I must serve a suspension even though the stimulant that I took was not used before any game and was not used to enhance my performance. I apologize to the NFL, my team, my coaches, and to my fans, and I look forward to continuing to help the Chargers toward our goal of winning the Super Bowl in the upcoming season.?

This Monday, Chargers' strong safety Clinton Hart agreed to terms on a new five-year contract that will keep him in lightning bolts through the 2012 season. ?We are very happy to have Clinton as a part of our future,? Chargers' General Manager A.J. Smith said. ?He was a first-year starter last year and was a major part of our team?s success. We believe his best football is ahead of him.? After spending three seasons as a key reserve and special teams' player with the Chargers, Hart became a full-time starter for the first time in 2007. He started all 16 regular-season games and all three playoff games at strong safety. During the regular season, Hart was the club?s third-leading tackler with 109 stops, trailing only Stephen Cooper and Matt Wilhelm. He also finished second on the team with five interceptions and tied for second with four tackles for loss. Hart was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2008 season. The six-year veteran took the road less traveled to the NFL through the Arena Football League after not playing college football. For him, Monday was the culmination of years of sacrifice. ?It?s a day that I?ve been waiting for,? Hart said. ?I?ve put in a lot of work. I feel blessed, and I?m happy to be part of the Chargers for a few more years so we can make that run at a World Championship.? Hart originally joined the Chargers in September, 2004 after he was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. In five NFL seasons, he has played in 78 regular season games and started 31.

Chargers' restricted free agent linebacker Marques Harris and exclusive rights free agent cornerback Cletis Gordon have both signed their one-year contract tenders and are now under contract for the 2008 season. Harris has been a key reserve and special teams player throughout his three years with the Bolts. In 2007, he appeared in 15 games and started two at outside linebacker, recording 1.5 sacks and eight special teams tackles. He originally joined the Chargers in 2005 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Southern Utah State. Gordon saw action in 14 games last season, mostly on special teams where he recorded eight tackles. Gordon joined the Chargers in 2006 as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Jackson State. With Harris and Gordon signed, the Chargers now have all of their restricted and exclusive rights free agents under contract for 2008.